Blizzplanet and StarCraftWire.net staff have a public live chat with Tokyopop Editor Hope Donovan and writers of the StarCraft Frontline Vol. 3 manga. Fans are welcome to join to ask questions about the StarCraft II stories in the series. Check out our recent preview scans of War-Torn by writers Paul Benjamin & Dave Shramek. Art by Hector Sevilla.

The publisher Simon & Schuster, Inc. informed me Christie Golden will be signing copies of WORLD OF WARCRAFT: ARTHAS on Saturday, May 16 afternoon at Barnes & Noble in her hometown of Loveland, Colorado. Get the map and driving directions here. Submit your photos or video of your visit and meeting with Christie.

Our live chat with Richard A. Knaak was a blast to fans who attended. You may read the transcript here. I wanted to give everyone in Blizzplanet a heads up on the next live chat that is more focused on StarCraft. I don’t have yet a date, but since you guys visit often in a daily basis, I know you will appreciate a heads up in advance to stay alert.

We will have the pleasure to have a live chat with Hope Donovan—current editor of the Tokyopop manga StarCraft Frontline Vol. 3 and 4. I don’t have the details yet, but it seems this upcoming live chat will have the additional presence of some of the following authors: Josh Elder, Kieron Gillen, Grace Randolph, Simon Furman. If you already have the StarCraft Frontline manga series, be ready to shoot all your ammo of questions about the current and upcoming stories within the manga. Those fans who haven’t read the manga, but are curious to learn more on how these stories fit with StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty’s single-player, hop in for the ride to find out more.

Stay tuned for a date / time, and maybe they might surprise us with some giveaways for those attending the live chat.

Other things we are going to show you soon:

StarCraft # 1 interview with Simon Furman (Wildstorm / DC Comics)

StarCraft Ghost: Academy preview scans

StarCraft Ghost: Academy interview with Keith R.A. DeCandido

Who wants to say: “Yay!” ? No, seriously, would you love to attend the live chat, and like the direction we are taking with lore and merchandise coverage? Look forward to the comic book and manga monthly preview scans and updates? Share your feedback over at our sister site forum (StarCraftWire.net)

The writer of StarCraft: I, Mengsk, Graham McNeill, has a book signing appearance on Saturday, May 16th from 12pm – 2pm at the Manchester Arndale Centre (Games Workshop Store – Upper Floor). Bring your copy of StarCraft: I, Mengsk. Let us know how it went down and send us photos or video of your meeting with Graham.

Arndale Centre,
Manchester, M4 3AQ
United Kingdom

You can view an interactive map of the Manchester Arndale Centre here to find out where in the upper floor the Games Workshop store is located.

For details on how to get there ask Manager Paul Evans at the follwing phone number: 0161 834 6871

I had a few words with Sideshow Collectibles President and CEO Greg Anzalone and Production Manager Brant Bridges tonight and there are good news for those hardcore Diablo III fans that are into collectibles. The Diablo III OVERTHROWN diorama is nearing its final stages. We will show you the photos once the painted version is ready. New products based on the Blizzard games are not out of the question, but nothing as soon as we wish.

Below is an image of the unpainted Diablo III diorama.

What’s the Sideshow Collectibles background?

Greg: Sideshow was born from the belief that we could create more interesting, more detailed, more highly collectible limited edition figures, for a global audience. Our belief has been proven true, but we continue to be surprised by the global appeal of our products.

Medievaldragon: Are there plans to introduce more dioramas based on the Starcraft II, Diablo III and World of Warcraft licenses?

Brant: Yes, we are hoping to do more Blizzard products. Nothing in the immediate future, but we do have some ambitions.

Medievaldragon: What is the status on the Diablo III OVERTHROWN diorama (Barbarian) The final painted version hasn’t been unveiled yet.

Medievaldragon: Are you eventually developing a polystone diorama for each of the five Diablo III classes? i.e. the Witch Doctor and the Wizard?

Brant: It’s possible, but not definite.

Medievaldragon: How was that first approach between Sideshow and Blizzard Entertainment? The first product was the exclusive Tychus Findlay Terran Marine diorama—already painted by the time Blizzard officially announced StarCraft II, which means you were already on this at least a year earlier.

Greg: Our guys are Blizzard fans and play WoW more than they should because they’re dragging their sorry asses to work in the morning with a videogame hangover. So it was only natural that we explore other potential products.

With Starcraft II Beta so close to starting any minute, read today’s opt-in updates, Tokyopop is preparing to launch StarCraft Frontline Vol. 3 on July 14. The manga contains four stories based on the StarCraft universe, and may contain lore from the StarCraft II single-player. Remember when I asked Chris Metzen and Micky Neilson if the Umojan Protectorate had their own Ghost Program?—watch the video interview. They smirked and for a good reason. This preview reveals in part that.

You must add this book on your must-have wishlist. One of the stories within this manga is titled War-Torn by writers Paul Benjamin & Dave Shramek. Art by Hector Seville and Letters by Michael Paolilli.

Buckle up and prepare to fire the rocket boosters, because the groundbreaking sci-fi manga based on the best-selling Blizzard PC game is about to enter our atmosphere! The anthology is packed with four amazing stories guaranteed to jettison boredom from your life!

Streaking across the stars to your local bookstore in July is StarCraft: Frontline 3! Below you

DC Comics provided Blizzplanet six preview scans from the StarCraft # 1 comic book. The comic book will launch on May 27 at a newsstand near you. You can find one near you by visiting the Comics Shop Locator or subscribe to get it mailed directly to your home.

Description

From the bestselling Blizzard computer game comes the most explosive sci-fi action comic ever created! Join the WarPigs, a disbanded team of outlaws reunited by their former captain for one last job: the assassination of Jim Raynor!

Join creators Keith Giffen, Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio for WildStorm’s explosive foray into the world of STARCRAFT with this new ongoing series!

Graham McNeill, writer of StarCraft: I, Mengsk is coming to the United States for a book signing session at a non-Blizzard event. His public appearance will be at the Games Day Baltimore on Saturday, May 9th in the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. If you happen to be a Warhammer fan, or wish to meet the writer, tickets to attend the Games Day Baltimore cost $25 and can be purchased in advance or at the door.You can order your Games Day ticket in advance by calling the Direct Services department at 1-800-394-GAME (4263).